Unpopular Official Picked to Lead Burma

The ruling party today chose Sein Lwin, who led riot police in suppressing student demonstrations for the past five months, as party chairman to replace Ne Win, who wielded authoritarian power over this Southeast Asian nation for a quarter of a century.

A brief news release said the Central Committee of the Burma Socialist Program Party elected the 64-year-old retired army general, the country’s No. 4-ranked leader, during a special session.

Sein Lwin, probably the most unpopular official in Burma after his leading role in the ruthless suppression of student demonstrations, has served as the party’s joint general secretary since 1985.

His elevation to the country’s top post appeared to dash hopes among the public here that Ne Win’s retirement would lead to widespread reform of Burma’s one-party, military-backed system.

Sein Lwin commanded the military forces that put down the March protests in Rangoon in which more than 100 people are said to have died. Recently the government admitted that 41 protesters suffocated in a van after their arrests.

Ne Win, 77, was asked to step down Saturday after 26 years in power. On Monday, a special party congress accepted his resignation and that of the second-most powerful figure in the country--party Vice Chairman San Yu, also the country’s president.